THIS week I want to talk about the case involving your boy Terrence Smith, who was convicted of fraud for stealing big money from the Bermuda Housing Corporation. Many people have a position on this case, but I like to analyse things and get to the why. The answer to the "why" indicates that Bermudians are too materialistic, with everybody trying to keep up with the Smiths (excuse the pun).

More on this after the Top 20.

Moving on to the top of the pops this week is Feel Good Inc by Gorillaz. What a creative joint. You gotta hear the entire CD; it must be one of the most diverse CDs ever produced. They have everything. Up to number two is Yo (Excuse Me Miss) by Chris Brown. This joint is doing well in charts all over the world. It's doing so well that Chris Brown is coming to Bermuda and will be performing on June 2.

Tumbling to number three is the kicking new joint from the Queen of R&B, Mary J Blige, entitled Be Without You. Beyonce's new joint, a collaboration with Slim Thug entitled Check On It, advances to number four.

Freefalling to number five is So Sick by Ne Yo, one of the smoothest love songs of the year. Sorry, the new hit from Pop Queen Madonna, moves up to number six. Madonna is the bomb and her CD is packed with at least four or five chart-topping hits. This is continued excellence from a diva who has survived three decades in the business.

Down to number seven this week is the new one by Dem Franchize Boyz featuring Lil Peanut and Charlay, entitled Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It. Up to number eight is Busta Rhymes' new hit - Touch It.

Falling to number nine is Hung Up, the monster dance/pop anthem from Queen of dance and pop, Madonna. Slipping to number ten is a former essential new joint - Nasty Girl by The Notorious B.I.G., Nelly, Diddy, Jagged Edge and Avery Storm.

Dropping to number 11 is Jamie Foxx and Ludacris, with their hit single Unpredictable, which is all over the radio and nightspots.

Climbing to number 12 is I'm N Luv (Wit A Stripper) by T-Pain featuring Mike Jones. Improving to number 13 is the new one from Keyshia Cole, entitled Love.

Now, shifting gears to dancehall, Temperature by Yardie Sean Paul moves up to number 14. You gotta love Sean Paul's beats. Don't know who produces his beats, but they are off the hook. Speaking of reggae/dancehall, I was watching TV the other day and there is a Jewish Reggae artist who is generating quite a bit of interest in the business and with the media. Both CNN and MTV have run features on Matisyahu. Stay tuned for more info about him.

Now some new joints that are advancing up the charts. Improving to number 15 this week is a big tune, Testify by Common. Up to number 16 is Rodeo by Juvenile, a new one that is easing up the hip hop and R&B charts and getting increasing air play.

Falling to number 17 is I'll Be Your Light by Kristine W, a monster house track.

Now this week's essential new joint. In at number 18 is Best Friend by Oliva and 50 Cent. This track kicks and as is usual with 50's hits, it is very catchy. New at number 19 is What You Know by T.I., who said that his current CD is his best work to date; a must see/must hear collector's item. The first single is huge but the jury is out on whether this is his best work.

And rounding things out at number 20 is the latest from Canadian/Guyanese diva Deborah Cox - House is Not a Home.

Now back to this week's word - the materialistic nature of our society - and what it has produced.

Bermuda is too materialistic. The Royal Gazette summed it up perfectly in a headline that appeared during the Smith trial: "A champagne lifestyle on a beer budget".

We are too concerned about accumulating things, material possessions, nice cars, big houses, flat screen TVs. Then we want to take our four trips per year, which involve shopping for more things, to replace the previous year's things, with which we are bored after only a few months. There is pressure on everybody to accumulate things, but not everybody can afford them.

Terrence Smith succumbed to the pressure to try to maintain a higher standard of living and to have more "things" than his income and investments would allow.

I have good friends who earn much more money than I do. They have bigger houses, drive nicer cars, take more trips and have more "things" than I do. However, I know that I just can't afford to live like that, on my meagre salary. But, this doesn't make me less of a person, just a different person. We need to deliver this message to our people. We need to live within our means.

One of the problems with Bermuda's economy, as I have observed previously in this column, is the fact that our perceived affluence is very misleading. I'll say again that Bermuda is not a wealthy country; Bermuda is a country where there is a lot of wealth, but little of this wealth is owned by Bermudians. What happened to Terrence Smith is what happens when an economy is structured in this manner. The people who don't have the wealth see it every day and desire it. But they don't have it. They see all the trappings, they see the "haves" living it up every day. They see the "haves'" wives not having to struggle with raising children - they have nannies-sometimes one per child. So their wives go to the gym, eat only from Miles (where you supposedly find only the freshest and most expensive food), have weekly full spa treatments (facials, manicures pedicures, massages), regular hair treatments and look like models (well, except where their faces are concerned) even when they are 50. What loving husband wouldn't want this for their wife, if he could afford it?

The point I'm raising here is that our economy's imbalance has created the conditions where everybody can see the wealth up close and personal. Yet only a few have it. People need to live within their means. Material possessions do not define you. It is the things you have done, the life you live, the people you help, the friends you've made, how you've raised your children, how you've helped your parents and family and your relationship with God that will define you in the end. So, Bermuda, don't try to keep up with the high rollers in this country. Live within your means. Spend your money on your brains, on books, education and your children's brains. Education is the best investment you can make. There is a perception in local and international businesses that our education system is producing children who are not employable. Therefore, we have to improve the education system and add to it by offering Masters and Doctorate Degrees at or through the Bermuda College. The rationale for this is that not everybody can afford to go away. So, our top institution must offer the highest possible education to our people.

My hope is that Terrence Smith will learn from his mistakes, serve his time, move on and not repeat this behaviour. He is still a young man who can turn his life around. While some people will judge him, I shall not, for I too am a sinner and therefore not qualified to judge another. The Bible, as we all know, says, "Judge not, lest ye be judged". I'm trying to live that scripture verse and I invite others who would cast judgment to do the same. We are all sinners, one way or the other, and the wages of all sin is death. So may the brother repent, be saved, forgiven and have a fresh start.

However, I would be remiss and a fool if I did not address a glaring failure of our judicial system, not only in this case, but in others. Terrence Smith didn't commit fraud alone; he had some help from others not before the court. Some of his collaborators, it appears, will walk free, even though they participated in one of the biggest and most publicised fraud schemes ever involving Government funds.

Is this right? I don't think so.

This happened with the Rebecca Middleton case, where two guys kill a girl and between them they only get 12 years (of which they only served about seven). No wonder this case is being appealed! We have to look at the judicial code and stop this from happening.

We can also create a law that allows the Crown to revisit a case and retry if glaring errors were made and if new information appears that changes things. Or maybe the law exists already but isn't being applied. This is one for my lawyer buddies to solve.

I don't like the idea that Terrence Smith and his lawyer were using the race card to try to get him off or minimise his sentencing.

But if Smith's helpers (some of whom, as the politicians say, "don't look like him") get off, once again, it looks like the black man is getting the raw deal.

In my view, they should all go to jail. Crime is crime, regardless of the colour of your skin.

Peace be with you ...